Can Joviality upset the boys in one of the world’s biggest trotting events?

by Thomas Hedlund

Vincennes racetrack in Paris is gearing up for a spectacular weekend with many high-quality races on the Saturday (Jan. 27) and Sunday (Jan. 28) cards. The highlight is the $545,000 Prix d’Amérique on Sunday afternoon.

The most spectacular thing about the Prix d’Amérique this year is maybe the fact that Courant Stable chose to try the 5-year-old Joviality among some of the best horses in Europe. With Joviality’s prior start in fresh memory, the decision to start in the Prix d’Amérique is far from a crazy move.

Joviality finished second to Jushua Tree in the Prix de Croix and the latter would probably have been the favorite in Sunday’s big race in Paris.

Björn Goop will drive Sabine Kagebrant’s mare. Joviality is the second richest trotter in the 18-horse strong field. Only Vivid Wise As has earned more money than Joviality.

Title defender Hooker Berry is definitely one of the more interesting horses in the Prix d’Amérique even this year, but the probable favorite when the field gathers inside of the track as the start waits is Idao de Tillard. Thierry Duvaldestin’s trotter tried this race already last year, but that day Idao de Tillard was not in his best shape. In his preparation races before the Prix d’Amérique 2024, he looked sounder and alert, so it’s probably correct that he will be the bettors’ choice on Sunday.

Elitloppet winner Hohneck is obviously in the race, but the chance that he will follow up his tremendous season in 2023 by winning the biggest race in France is highly unlikely. Hohneck is a top trotter, but he showed more efficiency on shorter tracks and distances in the prior season. Trainer Philippe Allaire has two other shots in Izoard Vedaquais and Italiano Vero where the former has the best chance of challenging for the win.

Prix d’Amérique 2024 might very well be a fight between well merited mares. Joviality was mentioned before, but what about Fabrice Souloy’s Ampia Mede Sm, who became queen of the winter meeting 2023-24 after triumphs in the Prix de France and the Prix de Paris? Franck Nivard has driven the Italian-bred mare quite cautiously in the preparation races at Vincennes and she will most certainly enter the track in the best possible condition on Sunday.

And don’t forget Inmarosa. Laurent-Claude Abrivard’s mare could be the race’s real upsetter if she gets her cover trip.

PRIX D’AMÉRIQUE 2024

2,700 meters

Horse — Sire — Driver — Trainer

1. Inmarosa — Amiral Sacha — Leo Abrivard — Laurent Claude Abrivard

2. Hokkaido Jiel — Brillantissime — David Thomain — Jean-Luc Dersoir

3. Emeraude de Bais — Repeat Love — Jean-Philippe Monclin — Benjamin Goetz

4. Hussard du Landret — Bird Parker — Yoann Lebourgeois — Benoit Robin

5. Izoard Vedaquais — Bird Parker — Benjamin Rochard — Philippe Allaire

6. Gu d’Heripre — Coktail Jet — Francois Lagadeuc — Fabrice Souloy

7. Go On Boy — Password — Romain Derieux 

8. Italiano Vero — Ready Cash — Matthieu Mottier — Philippe Allaire

9. Diable de Vauvert — Prince d’Espace — Bertrand Le Beller

10. Aetos Kronos — Bold Eagle — Örjan Kihlström — Jerry Riordan

11. Ampia Mede Sm — Ganymede — Franck Nivard — Fabrice Souloy

12. Idao de Tillard — Severino — Clément Duvaldestin — Thierry Duvaldestin

13. Hail Mary — Googoo Gaagaa — Eric Raffin — Daniel Redén

14. Hooker Berry — Booster Winner —Nicolas Bazire — Jean—Michel Bazire

15. Delia du Pommereux — Niky — Pierre-Yves Verva — Sylvain Roger

16. Hohneck — Royal Dream — Gabriele Gelormini — Philippe Allaire

17. Joviality — Chapter Seven — Björn Goop — Sabine Kagebrant

18. Vivid Wise As — Yankee Glide — Matthieu Abrivard — Alessandro Gocciadoro

THOMAS HEDLUND’S RANKINGS:

1. 11 Ampia Mede Sm

2. 14 Hooker Berry

3. 12 Idao de Tillard

4. 17 Joviality

5. 1 Inmarosa

6. 7 Go On Boy

7. 5 Izoard Vedaquais

8. 13 Hail Mary

9. 2 Hokkaido Jiel

10. 16 Hohneck

11. 6 Gu d’Heripre

12. 4 Hussard du Landret

13. 18 Vivid Wise As

14. 3 Emeraude de Bais

15. 10 Aetos Kronos

16. 8 Italiano Vero

17. 9 Diable de Vauvert

18. 15 Delia du Pommereux

Saturday’s card at Vincennes is very impressive. The $105,000 Prix du Luxembourg for older horses close to the very elite is usually the main attraction this day, but to be honest, the Luxembourg is just a race among others this day, even if some really strong horses will be behind the gate in the 2,100 meters long Prix du Luxembourg.

The $160,000 Prix Roquepine for 3-year-old fillies, $320,000 Prix Ourasi for the 4-year-olds, $160,000 Prix Paul Viel for 3-year-old colts and $320,000 Prix Bold Eagle for 5-year-olds are all top races which every harness racing fan gladly will pay entrance to see.

The Saturday program can be found here.

You can watch races live, both Saturday and Sunday, here.